It's a couple hours, not sure exactly where I want it to be but it's fiction so it really doesn't have to fall into a time line, into season four. Michelle and Tony are still at each other's throats. They're trying to be civil for the sake of the crisis at hand but both are hurting and still love each other, just neither of them is willing to make the first move. They are waiting for confirmation from Jack who is out in the field.

I'm using the snowball device from a previous story as well as the history with Michelle's father in this one.

As with all my other fics, I unfortunately, do not own 24 or any of the characters.

Chapter 1, Surveillance

"Michelle, there's someone named Allan on the phone for you. He says he's with the F.B.I. and it's urgent," Chloe came up and told her.

Michelle didn't make eye contact with anyone as she picked up the phone. "Dessler."

"Michelle, how are you?"

"As fine as can be expected under the circumstances."

"You can't talk?"

"That's true."

"I found your leak in getting your father out. Your father is dead now, by the way. I know the situation that everyone is under but I thought you might like to know."

"Yes."

"It's Bill Buchanan."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm sending you the intel now."

"O.K."

"I'm sorry Michelle."

"Me too. Thank-you." Michelle hung up the phone and had about two seconds to think. She made up her mind and threw a chair and a couple of other things as far as she could.

"Michelle, what's going on?" Tony rushed right up to her. He had seen her tears and was immediately concerned. For a moment—but only for a moment—he had seemed to forget everything that had happened.

That was until she yelled, "Don't touch me!"

Bill came running up. "Someone care to tell me what is going on?"

"I need to talk to you." Michelle wiped some tears from her eyes, glared at Tony and said, "Privately." She then spun on Tony, "This doesn't concern you. I'm fine. Get back to work or go home and feed Snowball."

Michelle spun back around and prayed that Tony would understand her. Then she led Bill off to one of the rooms. "Can we turn off the monitors?" Michelle then waited as he did so. She looked up and to the left, hoping that Tony was watching.

It took Tony a total of one and a half seconds to know what Michelle was talking about once she had uttered Snowball. As soon as Michelle and Bill were out of sight, he went upstairs and turned on the "snowball" monitors that he and Michelle had devised as an extra pair of eyes.

Inwardly, Tony smiled. She had never told anyone about them—not even Buchanan. Tony had some satisfaction in that. He watched and waited.

"What's going on Michelle?" Bill asked as he came back into the room.

"Are the monitors off? I'm sorry; I don't mean to question you. I just don't want anyone to see this—see me like this."

"Michelle what is it?"

"My family's dead Bill. Everyone. Murdered. By my father."

"Your father?" I thought you said he was dead."

"He was or so I thought," Michelle moved so that Bill's face would be in view of the camera. "His name is Michael Richards. My real name is Michelle Lynn Richards."

Tony swore softly but he forced himself to watch. There was a reason that Michelle was talking to Bill and having him monitor the situation.

He looked closely at Bill's face. Bill didn't look too surprised. Son of a bitch. If Michelle hadn't told him, how could he know?

"Why tell me?" Bill asked Tony's thoughts though he didn't know it.

"What do you mean?"

"Why not talk to Tony right now? I imagine he knows everything."

Michelle nodded. "He knew. But there's nothing that he can do about it now," she glanced over her shoulder, up at the camera.